Despite some negative media coverage that would indicate 3D is losing favor with filmgoers, worldwide box-office revenue from 3D screens more than doubled last year to $6.1 billion (19.3%), up from $2.5 bil. (8.6%) in 2009, according to an IHS Screen Digest Cinema Intelligence report.
An increasing number of 3D film releases and 3D screens, and fast-growing 3D acceptance overseas accounted for most of the increase. International territories accounted for 65% of the total ($3.9 bil.), up substantially from 54% in 2009 ($1.4 bil.).
The fastest-growing territory for 3D is Japan, second biggest overall with titles such as “Avatar,” “Alice in Wonderland,” “Toy Story 3,” and the Japanese film “Umizaru 3: The Last Message.”
The percentage of 3D tickets sold in in North America dropped from 42.3% to 36.1% but is still the largest single 3D market with gross ticket sales of $2 bil.
And the U.S. remains by far the biggest supplier of 3D film releases, accounting for 90% of worldwide 3D box-office revenue, according to Charlotte Jones, senior analyst for cinema at IHS.

– By Scott Hettrick

Bow Tie Cinemas is working exclusively with MasterImage 3D to supply MI-2100 digital 3D systems and polarized 3D eyewear as the family-owned movie theater company with 20 locations and 169 screens throughout Connecticut, Maryland, Virginia, New York and Colorado converts its systems from film to digital.

The enhanced business relationship between MasterImage 3D and Bow Tie will bring MasterImage 3D systems to several of Bow Tie’s flagship theaters in markets such as Richmond, VA, Annapolis, MD, New Haven, Stamford and Norwalk, CT.

“MasterImage’s systems offer the highest level of picture quality and clarity to our moviegoers in a 3D cinematic experience,” said Ben Moss, Owner of Bow Tie.  “Their combination of cutting-edge, unsurpassed technology and a sensible, well-executed business model made working with MasterImage on our 3D Cinema Deployment an easy and obvious decision.”

The MasterImage MI-2100 digital 3D cinema system offers high-quality presentation, single-or multi-use eyewear, is easily portable between screens and is available through an ownership-based pricing model.  The MasterImage MI-1000 glass filters are universal and work optimally with MasterImage 3D glasses for oversized screen installations.

Supported by all six major Hollywood studios and many independent distributors, MasterImage 3D systems are installed in over 70 countries worldwide.  This increased commitment from Bow Tie Cinemas continues MasterImage 3D recent global expansion including announcements with Cinema City International, Les Cinemas Gautmont Pathe, TOHO Cinemas and Kinepolis Group.

“Bow Tie Cinemas is one of the most respected and knowledgeable circuits in the United States,” said Peter Koplik, President Digital Cinema, MasterImage 3D.  “Like many cinema owners around the world, the Moss family trusts our technology and business offering as they expand their commitment to premium quality 3D presentation.”

– By Scott Hettrick

ESPN 3D will double the number of college football telecasts this year as the network plans to televise 20 regular-season games along with the Allstate BCS National Championship and five postseason bowl games.
The network will kick off its second year of extensive college football coverage with two games in five days over Labor Day weekend when UNLV travels to Wisconsin on Thurs., Sept. 1, at 8 p.m. ET with Miami at Maryland on Mon., Sept. 5, at 8 p.m.

The 2011 season marks the return of Miami, Oregon, USC, UCLA, Virginia Tech and Wisconsin to the ESPN 3D schedule and the addition of multiple top programs highlighted by LSU, Mississippi State, Oklahoma State, and Texas.  It will also be the second straight year the network will air the Dr Pepper ACC Championship game, slated for Sat., Dec. 3, at 8 p.m.

The network will increase its post season coverage this year with the return of the Allstate BCS National Championship Game on Mon., Jan. 9, at 8:30 p.m.  as well as five additional bowl games.

The complete 2011-2012 schedule:
Date               Time (ET)     Game
Thurs, Sept. 1     8 p.m.     UNLV at Wisconsin
Mon, Sept. 5     8 p.m.     Miami at Maryland
Thurs, Sept. 8     8 p.m.     Arizona at Oklahoma State
Sat, Sept. 10     7 p.m.     BYU at Texas
Thurs, Sept. 15     8 p.m.     LSU at Mississippi State
Thurs, Sept. 22     8 p.m.     NC State at Cincinnati
Sat., Sept. 24     TBD     TBD
Thurs, Sept. 29     8 p.m.     South Florida at Pittsburgh
Sat., Oct. 1     TBD     TBD
Thurs, Oct. 6     9 p.m.     California at Oregon
Thurs, Oct. 13     9 p.m.     USC at California
Sat., Oct. 15     TBD     TBD
Thurs, Oct. 20     9 p.m.     UCLA at Arizona
Thurs, Oct. 27     8 p.m.     Virginia at Miami
Tues, Nov. 1     7 p.m.     Northern Illinois at Toledo
Fri, Nov. 4     9 p.m.     USC at Colorado
Thurs, Nov. 17     8 p.m.     North Carolina at Virginia Tech
Sat., Nov. 19     TBD     TBD
Thurs, Dec. 1     8 p.m.     West Virginia at South Florida
Sat, Dec. 3     8 p.m.     Dr Pepper ACC Championship Game
Sat, Dec. 17     9 p.m.     R+L Carriers New Orleans Bowl
Tues, Dec. 20     8 p.m.     Beef O’Brady’s Bowl St. Petersburg
Thurs, Dec. 29     5:30 p.m.     Champs Sports Bowl
Sat, Dec. 31     7:30 p.m.     Chick-fil-A Bowl
Mon, Jan. 2     1 p.m.     Capital One Bowl
Mon, Jan. 9     8:30 p.m.     Allstate BCS National Championship

Sony is an official sponsor of college football on ESPN 3D.
Additional programming for ESPN 3D will be announced throughout the year and will include college basketball and Winter X Games 17.

– By Scott Hettrick

Finally, a collective effort among industry titans to come up with a common standard for the highest-quality of 3D TV glasses — those with active shutter technology — that will work on most home 3D displays and even in some movie theater systems. The first “universal” glasses are expected to be ready by next year and bebackward compatible with current active 3DTVs.

Panasonic Corporation, Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd., Sony Corporation and X6D Limited (XPAND 3D) today (Aug. announced their intent to collaborate on the development of a new technology standard for consumer 3D active glasses, under the name, “Full HD 3D Glasses Initiative.”

With this new agreement, the companies intend to work together on the development and licensing of radio frequency (RF) system 3D active glasses technology, including RF system protocols between consumer 3D active glasses and 3D displays such as televisions, personal computers, projectors and 3D theaters with XPAND active shutter glasses.
The standardization will also include multiple types of infrared (IR) system protocols between 3D active glasses and 3D displays, ranging from the protocols jointly developed by Panasonic and XPAND 3D*, to the proprietary protocols of Samsung and Sony, respectively.

The license of today’s newly announced Full HD 3D Glasses Initiative is targeted to be released in September 2011, at which time the development of new standardization-applied active 3D glasses will begin. Universal glasses with the new IR/RF protocols will be made available in 2012, and are targeted to be backward compatible with 2011 3D active TVs.
Through this initiative, the four companies aim to widely introduce universal active 3D glasses to the market.

Today’s announcement marks a unique collaboration of the world’s leading 3D TV manufacturers and 3D technology providers for the benefit of consumers. Glasses utilizing 3D active technology benefits consumers in that they enable Full HD 3D picture quality to be displayed to each eye, as well as a greater freedom of movement thanks to Bluetooth technology.

“Panasonic has been working to standardize 3D glasses technologies, and in March, we announced a joint licensing of IR system protocols with XPAND, backed by several participant companies. We are very pleased that today’s latest collaboration will incorporate our previous concept into these new standardization efforts,” said Masayuki Kozuka, general manager of Media & Content Alliance Office, Corporate R&D Division, Panasonic Corporation.

“To-date, active 3D technology has proven to be the most popular choice for consumers in the 3D TV market,” said Jurack Chae, vice president, R&D Team, Visual Display Business, Samsung Electronics. “According to the NPD Group, Active 3D technology took an average of 96 percent share of the U.S. 3D TV market in the first half of this year; and this Full HD 3D Glasses Initiative will help further drive consumer adoption and understanding of active 3D—the technology that provides the clearest and most immersive 3D experience available.”

“We believe active 3D technology is the most suitable method to deliver full 1080p picture quality to each eye, giving consumers the 3D experience they most desire,” said Jun Yonemitsu, deputy senior general manager, Home Entertainment Development Div., Sony Corporation.

“This initiative… provides technology consumers and theater-goers with a simple but powerful solution to the challenge of interoperability,” said Maria Costeira, XPAND 3D’s CEO.

– By Scott Hettrick

“Smurfs 3D” proved to have more staying power than “Cowboys and Aliens” in the second week in theaters for both movies.
Neither was able to hold off the surprising $55 million opening of “Rise of the Planet of the Apes” but Sony’s Smurfs held strong with $21 million this past weekend for a total gross to date of $75 mil. domestically and $129 mil. worldwide.

Another recent 3D film remains among the top five — Paramount’s “Captain America: The First Avenger,” with $13 mil., while Warner Bros.’ “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Part 2,” also in 3D, was sixth with $12.2 mil.

– By Scott Hettrick

Four of the top ten movies this weekend (Aug. 5-7) were 3D films, with “The Smurfs” showing great depth and staying power in collecting another $21 million, good enough for second place behind the $55 mil. debut of the 2D “Rise of the Planet of the Apes.”
“The Smurfs” has collected $76 mil. in two weeks, compared to the $143 mil. of fifth-ranked “Captain America: The First Avenger” after three weeks and the $343 mil. of “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2″ in just four weeeks.
“Transformers: Dark of the Moon” is slightly ahead of Potter with “344 mil. but down to 10th in its sixth weekend.

– By Scott Hettrick

Even a revival of 1980s TV cartoon characters the Smurfs can score big in 3D.
Sony’s “The Smurfs 3D” nearly tied the much-anticipated and star-filled “Cowboys & Aliens” on opening weekend with $35.6 million.

Despite competition from several of the summer’s biggest movies playing in 3D theaters, “The Smurfs” still had 45% of its audience paying a premium to watch the computer-animated movie in 3D in 2.042 of its 3,395 locations, according to Box Office Mojo.
Three of the top five and five of the top 10 movies this weekend were 3D, including third-ranked “Captain America: The First Avenger,” with another $26 mil. to reach $117 mil. overall.
“Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2″ picked up another $22 mil. to rank fourth and raise its total to $319 mil.
The other two were “Transformers: Dark of the Moon” ($6 mil.; $338 mil. to date) and “Cars 2″ ($2.3 mil.; $182 mil. total).

– By Scott Hettrick